MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents has adopted policy changes that will weaken tenure protections. The Republican-authored state budget stripped tenure protections from state law. The regents adopted the statutory language as policy but created a task force to recommend changes. The task force recommended tweaking the policy so chancellors could lay off tenured faculty if their programs are cut and fire them for poor performance. A number of other institutions across the country have similar policies in place. The American Association of University Professors has lambasted the Wisconsin changes, saying they’ll have a chilling effect on academic freedom. The regents’ education committee overwhelmingly approved the changes last month. The full board approved the changes on voice votes Thursday.
